Can you guys help? - ESY issues I have some questions - Junior is in ESY and I went to drop him off today and they wouldn't let me into the cafeteria where his teacher was where I knew that there are other parents that are able to walk their kids in - even the teacher thought it was awkward - in order for me to speak with her, they had to call her out of the cafeteria to come to the office so i can speak with her - she was shocked that they wouldn't let me into the cafeteria. This is not his regular school but his regular teacher. She even asked me how he was on Thursday and Friday because she wasn't there (her son is in the hospital w/ brain cancer) and I said he didn't like it - he was cranky and upset - she even told me that some of the aides are not even used to working with special needs children - !!! Isn't that illegal? Can they actually stop me from walking him in to the school?Don't all schools have the right to require visitors to sign in when they set foot on campus?  Every school DS has gone to requires this.  And it doesn't seem unreasonable that an area like the cafeteria would be restricted to school staff and students only.  I also don't think it is illegal to employ aides without special ed experience.  Inappropriate, yes, but not illegal.  If you do not think your child is receiving an FAPE, ask for an emergancy IEP meeting, and request that all aides that work with your son have proper special ed training. IBGECKO38901.3874189815 I'm a letter writer myself - I do completely understand that we have to sign in - His regular school actually requires you to scan in your driver's license and a picture is taken of you as well which remains in the security system for future visits. I think I was more shocked at the way I was treated most of all. Junior has been lucky though, his teacher actually teaches and is great with him. He lights up when he sees her. I just believe that she wasn't given appropriate para's. they might be certified but not experienced. I will definately work on his IEP for next year's ESY, as for this year - it is almost over - I just hate to take him out since he loves his teacher and the activities so much!!!! They have the gates locked at the high school where AJ attends ESY.  There have been times when I hadda go allllll the way around to get in there as he is in the 800 building.  I would much rather walk around than for them to have the gate open.  I was there one time when I was told to keep runners inside cuz they were unlocking the gates.  They use a pet gate to keep our kiddos inside...I asked them how they think that is gonna help...they said it will slow AJ down a bit so they can catch him.  I guess the teach, who used to teach spec ed took not only the "training" chairs and the TEACCH toys, but also the gate!  These days, before I take AJ to school, I call ahead of time so the gate is unlocked for us.  "Everybody" there knows I am AJ's Mom as I do spend a LOT of time there.  We also have "sub" aides...guess that is just how ESY is.  I will be talking to the dir of spec ed today, and the state rep...as I need to be sure that next school year is set up for an "appropriate" education for AJ.  IF there is ever something going on at the school that you don't understand, be sure to talk to the dir. of spec. ed.  Do whatever needs to be done to be SURE your child is getting FAPE!  (((((( KP )))))) Good luck!  Each school district has a right to have rules about parent access.  Those rules must be District-wide, applying to all schools and grades in the District.  AND to ALL parents and teachers.  If your son and you are being treated differently, this is a Civil Rights issue.  Call the Dir. of SP. Ed. and tell him or her about this discrimination. Thanks for the advice! I told my DH about what happened and he said "screw the letters, we are stopping by" - We went into the school and met with the principle who was very understanding about the situation - she took down the complaint and spoke with his teacher - the teacher said that if that is the school's regulation not to allow parents into the cafeteria is fine but that we can ask for her whenever we'd like like I did this morning; the other student has access to go into the cafeteria because the child really cannot tolerate strangers (he really really freaks out!) whereas Junior is a puppy that will go with anyone. This is completely different from his regular school so she would prefer to keep things as calm as possible until they get back to their regular school. DH understands her comments but he still does not feel comfortable leaving him there so we are going to pull him out of ESY this Friday. I am going to follow up these concerns though with a letter to the district as well as to the IEP coordinator at his school (we really don't have a committee except the ESE director, his teacher and the county's OT and SLP- which I have never met BTW) As for communication, the teacher sends notes home on a daily basis that reports what he did during the day as well as we write back to her every night about how he did at night. She is a great teacher and I am so disappointed that she has been placed into the position that she is with this school - even the aides are horrible! I didn't like them this morning and the way they approached me. It feels that as parents, we are losing access to our children more and more each day. I remember when I went to school, my mom was able to walk me to the door of my class room - and this was not too long ago!  - What are we to do when they are 5-6 years old and there are no longer aides that take them in? What about when they are mainstreamed? How does that play into the scheme of things? I'm so confused! Krystal, I love your husbands "oomph!"  I think we'd have done the same think (at my husband's request of course - I'm a letter writer!!!!). It is true that mostly nowadays they require all visitors to hit the office first, but for when they get older, I wanted to assure you that you CAN ask for modifications as well.  Riley's school requires all the kids to line up outside the building, about 6 classes on each end of the school, very close proximity, and Riley just can't handle that.  I have his IEP amended that he is dropped off in front of the school, and his teacher meets him there to bring him in.  He was like a lost duckling entering by himself, and this was the way HE needed it to be. You may be able to ask that for ESY as well, but it sounds like they have other bigger issues.  (we too opted out of ESY this year, for some of the same reasons, but mostly because there was NO focus on academics - the school said that's not the reason for ESY, routine is...hmph...)
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